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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It wasn't as good as the last one. I seemed to always like the parts where the story was told from Bridgeburners perspective. But most of the book was really jumping from one story to another and a lot of those stories I didn't really care about that much.
One problem may have been that most of the other characters were last seen in the second book, and I really didn't remember most of the side characters because I finished it 1.5 years ago and was confused most of the story. Then again I was confused some parts of this story, so much hasn't changed. But a lot less than the second book, and I think getting less and less confused is part of the jorney when reading this series.
One problem may have been that most of the other characters were last seen in the second book, and I really didn't remember most of the side characters because I finished it 1.5 years ago and was confused most of the story. Then again I was confused some parts of this story, so much hasn't changed. But a lot less than the second book, and I think getting less and less confused is part of the jorney when reading this series.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
A couple of compelling new PoV characters in Karsa (after his initial chapters) and Onrack. In terms of actual plot less happens than in previous books, or at least it feels slower paced; it builds nicely to a final crescendo. A lot more world building and enough of the end game is revealed with a lot of new lore with some dogs...
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely heart-wrenching. On a re-read I enjoyed it even more, but differently. Less the soldiers' parts, more the story of Shai'k camp and related characters. Karsa, of course, but that was love at first page.
A lot of background is revealed on the second part, which I adored. So far the best book after Deadhouse Gates (and yes, above Memories of Ice).
A lot of background is revealed on the second part, which I adored. So far the best book after Deadhouse Gates (and yes, above Memories of Ice).
5.00/5.00
Lead us, Warleader.
We all long ago made our choices, L’oric. Behind us, our paths stretch, long and worn deep. There is bitter pathos in the prospect of retracing them. Yet, for those of us who remain… awake, it seems we do nothing but just that. An endless retracing of paths, yet each step we take is forward, for the path has proved itself to be a circle. Yet— and here is the true pathos— the knowledge never slows our steps.
“Wide-eyed stupid”, the Malazans say.
House of Chains is the emotional-intellectual journey that I have been waiting for in Malazan. Thank you, Steven Ericksen for this incredible work of fantasy storytelling. The story of the Malazan Empire claws into its deeply human themes and connects to its inhuman characters while overwhelming me with its brilliantly layered plot. The power of comradery ascending into the main story proves that Malazan is deeply thematic. Karsa Orlong's journey is among the best of main protagonist plots in fantasy, rivalling the tales of Kaladin and Logan Ninefingers. The world of Malazan is unbelievably complex and internally consistent. We cannot forget Erickson's prose, whether we need emotions, visuals, action or humor, it is just brilliant. The fact that this man pumped out these books one every year is just stunning.
Karsa shrugged. ‘Two weighted chains about me, then. The warcries of your stomachs leave me deafened. So be it. We shall camp.’
The huge savage bared his teeth at Leoman. ‘I hear a lizard hissing from under its rock, Leoman of the Flails. Such bravado is quickly ended with the heel of a boot.’
In the first three books, I struggled to connect deeply with characters. I enjoyed the humor with Iskaral Pust and Kruppe but did feel the weight of leadership with Rake, or price of humanity with Whiskeyjack. I attribute this disconnection to the total lack of exposition with character decisions and emotions in the early books. House of Chains, on the other hand, holds my hand a little more in telling the emotions of the characters. This "telling" is used scarcely and it fit perfectly into this story. Or maybe the general chaos and confusion of the early books kept me from comprehending everything, I will not know until I re-read the first three books.
Bairoth made no move. ‘You do not see what I see,’ he said quietly. ‘There is the potential within you, Karsa Orlong, to be your father’s son. I lied earlier when I said I prayed that you would remain free of doubt. I pray for the very opposite, Warleader. I pray that doubt comes to you, that it tempers you with its wisdom. Those heroes in our legends, Karsa Orlong, they were terrible, they were monsters, for they were strangers to uncertainty.’
Erickson also delivers with characters from early books. Apsalar and Crokus are such a delight to read and follow in this book. Heboric, Lostara, Pearl, Fiddler, Sha'ik, L'orin, Onrack, Trull Sengar, and most importantly Gamet, Bairoth Gild and Delum Thord form a exquisite cast that most fantasy books can only dream about. Gamet's personal journey from wisdom to fear to bravery to loss of self to resolve made me cry. Gamet and Karsa join my top fantasy characters list.
If you're in love with Malazan after Deadhouse Gates, you will love it more and more. If you're not sure about Malazan at the end of Memories of Ice, keep reading. I fell in love in this book! House of Chains is the book where Malazan becomes Malazan for me.
From Lord to Lady's Luck.